ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir threw 44 pitches during a 13-minute bullpen session on Wednesday.
Kazmir has been slowed by a left elbow strain, which he felt while warming up for an intrasquad game on Feb. 26. He expects to have another mound session Saturday.
“My arm feels alive,” said Kazmir, who also made 64 throws on level ground. “It feels like I’m getting good extension on the ball. My mechanics are good, so I’m happy where I’m at.”
The left-hander threw changeups off the mound for the first time since he got hurt. He will add his slider next time he works in the bullpen.
Kazmir, the AL strikeout champion, went 13-9 with a 3.48 ERA last season. He hopes to rejoin the team before the end of the month.
“As quick as possible,” Kazmir said. “I’m going to make sure everything feels good and I’m ready to go.”
The injury cost Kazmir the opportunity to be the opening-day starter.
David Price, taken by the Rays first overall in last year’s amateur draft, played catch for eight minutes during his first throwing session since leaving a minor league spring training start March. 20 with a left elbow strain.
“I didn’t feel it at all,” Price said about his injury last month. “There’s this pop. It was definitely scary. There was no pain, no tearing, nothing like that.”
Price doesn’t know when he will get on a mound, but said the plan is for him to pitch in around four extended spring training games before joining a Rays’ minor league team.
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